at turns

USAGE SUMMARY

"at turns" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It typically means "occasionally" or "from time to time". For example: "My cat, Mittens, can be quite friendly at turns, yet aloof at other times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A reviewer of the song for DJBooth wrote of Nas' performance as "at turns wistful, threatening and braggadocious", and praised the production's "compulsively head-noddable groove".

Wikipedia

It's at turns heartbreaking and hysterical.

The New Yorker

At turns, they broke into "Bernie!" chants.

The Guardian

It's at turns maddening, exhausting, enrapturing, insightful and very beautiful.

The Guardian - Music

She could be at turns friendly or distant.

The Guardian

"Jezebel" is a strange movie, at turns beautiful and ugly.

The New Yorker

At turns defiant or preoccupied, he brushed aside the combustible year.

The New York Times

The High Line, on the West Side of Manhattan, is at turns celebrated and vilified.

The New York Times

At turns, the road would warn that a lane was "only", or "slegs", for left turns.

The Economist

Gen. George R. Fay, offers at turns a sympathetic and critical view of Colonel Pappas.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was Travis Banton's amazing costumes for Claudette Colbert in the at-turns-camp, at-turns-sumptuous Roman romp.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at turns" to describe a subject or situation that exhibits different qualities or characteristics in succession. This can add depth and nuance to your descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "at turns" when you simply mean 'sometimes' or 'occasionally'. "At turns" is most effective when highlighting distinct and contrasting characteristics of a subject over time or within a context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at turns" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate that a quality or action alternates. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a perfectly acceptable and useful phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

11%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at turns" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to describe something that alternates between different states or qualities. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly acceptable and commonly found in news and media sources. Its function is to add nuance to writing by highlighting the changing nature of a subject. While it is more formal than simple alternatives like "sometimes", it's appropriate for most writing contexts. When using "at turns", ensure that you're accurately portraying distinct and contrasting qualities rather than simply indicating occasional occurrences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by turns

Slightly more formal and literary, but carries the same meaning of alternating qualities or states.

alternately

Implies a more regular, repeating pattern of changes.

from time to time

Emphasizes the occasional nature of the changes or variations.

periodically

Highlights the cyclical nature of the variations.

at intervals

Suggests that changes happen with some amount of space between them.

off and on

Emphasizes the intermittent nature of the changes or actions.

sometimes

A more general way to indicate that something happens occasionally.

now and then

Similar to "sometimes" but can also imply unpredictability.

on occasion

Suggests that something happens infrequently, or on specific instances.

every so often

Indicates that something happens at irregular but not infrequent intervals.

FAQs

How can I use "at turns" in a sentence?

Use "at turns" to describe something that alternates between different states or characteristics. For instance, "The movie was "at turns" hilarious and terrifying."

What does "at turns" mean?

"At turns" means alternating between different states, conditions, or characteristics. It implies a sequence of changing qualities.

What are some alternatives to using "at turns"?

You can use phrases like "by turns", "alternately", or "from time to time" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "at turns" formal or informal?

"At turns" is generally considered neutral in register, suitable for both formal and informal writing, though it leans slightly towards the formal side compared to simpler alternatives.